President Barack Obama on Friday night stepped up his criticism of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi’s violent response to the country’s unrest and said he would impose unilateral sanctions against Libya that would freeze the assets of Qadhafi and his four children.

“The Libyan government’s continued violation of human rights, brutalization of its people, and outrageous threats have rightly drawn the strong and broad condemnation of the international community,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House that said Qadhafi had violated “international norms and common decency and must be held accountable.”

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The president also pledged close coordination with U.S. allies and the international community in responding to the crisis, and said the U.S. would support additional sanctions that are under consideration by the United Nations Security Council.

Under a resolution sponsored by Britain and France, the U.N. would impose economic sanctions against Qadhafi and 21 other members of his family, the Libyan government, and heads of the military and intelligence forces.

It also includes a suspension of arms sales or transfers to Libya, a ban on travel, a freeze on assets, and most controversially, a referral to the international criminal court — a provision that would likely be opposed by two permanent Security Countil members, Russia and China.

“We will stand steadfastly with the Libyan people in their demand for universal rights, and a government that is responsive to their aspirations,” Obama said. “Their human dignity cannot be denied.”

The executive order issued by the president targets the Libyan government’s central bank and its sovereign wealth fund, an action that Obama said is aimed at the government, while leaving the “assets that belong to the people of Libya” intact.

The measures apply to Qadhafi’s family — his three sons, Khamis, Mutassim and Saif Al-Islam and his daughter Ayesha — unnamed members of the Libyan government, and perpetrators of human rights violations in Libya.

For now, the order affects only those five individuals, but Stuart Levey, undersecretary of Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said his department would work in conjunction with the State Department to identify the names of others to whom the sanctions should apply.

Readers' Comments (34)

Until I see otherwise, this is mere talk about getting tough. Obama will not be able to obtain immediate, and thus relevant, sanctions against Libya. He's far too weak and ineffectual to establish a no fly zone in Libya to prevent a bloodbath. He failed to encourage the uprising in Iran and will likewise leave the poor Libyans to their wretched fate.

The Libyan callers on AC360 tonight demonstrated the desperate situation faced by the Libyan opposition. These brave women, their voices cracking with terror, are begging for American air power to help oust one of the the world's most brutal dictators before he can engineer a genocidal crackdown in the regions which have revolted. There is no time to wait for the usual ineffective UN sanctions. Obama should have evacuated Americans by the 2nd or third day of this crisis when Benghazi fell and then immediately established a no-fly zone similar to Clinton's actions against Serbia. Tank, planes and mercs were the only response the US should have expected. If a no-fly zone isn't established, Qaddafi will remain in power absent an assassination by one of his generals. Alas, with this President, I fear this is the Libyan peoples only hope.

CRAZY QUADAFI HAS DONE MORE FOR HIS PEOPLE THEN ANY OTHER ARAB LEADER AND YET HE IS GOING TO BE SCREWED AND BB'D BECAUSE THE WEST WANTS TO TAKE HIS OIL. NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THE 2O BILLION HE SPENT ON THE WORLDS LARGEST WATER PROJECT FOR FARM LAND TO HELP HIS PEOPLE BE SELF SUFFICIENT IN FOOD. THE WEST WANTS THE ARABS TO BE DEPENDENT ON FOOD AND THAT IS WHY THIS REVOLUTION TOOK PLACE. JUST MORE WESTERN DOMINATION....

Libyan leader praises US president: 'He is of Muslim descent, his policy should be supported, as he now leans towards peace' Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi considers the US president a blessing to the Muslim world. In a speech published in London-based al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday, Gaddafi praised Barack Obama, called him a "friend" and said there is no longer any dispute between his country and the US.

Mr. President please focus on getting Americans out of Libya instead of useless sanctions. Actions in Libya are moving faster than any UN gaggle can to confront them. Why can all of the other foreign nationals get out of Libya easier than Americans? Lead, follow or get out of the way?

This is nothing more than an invasion in the tradition of Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

So a few people riot, and that gives other countries the right to invade it? Whether you like Gadafi or not, this will have a negative effect on the country for years to come. All you have to do is look at Iraq. It was a beautiful country and now destroyed. The arrogance and irresponsibility is astounding. AS IF they care one bit about those people.

I see Egypt is making stellar progress toward some sort of future, with thousands still in the streets, they know not why. Give me a break.

This is nothing more than an invasion in the tradition of Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

So a few people riot, and that gives other countries the right to invade it? Whether you like Gadafi or not, this will have a negative effect on the country for years to come. All you have to do is look at Iraq. It was a beautiful country and now destroyed. The arrogance and irresponsibility is astounding. AS IF they care one bit about those people.

I see Egypt is making stellar progress toward some sort of future, with thousands still in the streets, they know not why. Give me a break.

I don't know what the President is waiting for. Put up the no-fly zone immediately. Send in frigates to blockage Libya's naval ports. Save some lives please. We don't have to send the marines ashore to help the rebellion against this monster.

So, the next time there are riots in England, does that enable other countries to invade and grab the queen, perhaps cook up a little heart-attack or "stroke", leaving the country in disarray, weak, for some other invasion or domination? Like, by the Muslim Retarded-hood?

This is another cooked-up invasion in the style of Saddam Hussein, with the result being a wrecked country.

This is insanity. Illegal. Immoral. Makes No sense. O-Stupid, the globalists, Chinky-com leaders, and the UN have the black hat on, in this case, if looked at objectively.

And let's not get started on China, who by this reasoning, should have already been invaded. Where is the morality? This nation-building MUST stop. Our kids are going to pay the price, again, for another fake yellowcake fantasy.

""Former US State Department lawyer, Michael Scharf, said, "The CIA and the FBI kept the State Department in the dark (regarding Lockerbie) . It worked for them for us to be fully committed to the theory that Libya was responsible. I helped the counter- terrorism bureau draft documents that described why we thought Libya was responsible, but these were not based on seeing a lot of evidence, but rather on representations from the CIA and FBI and the Department of Justice about what the case would prove and did prove.

It was largely based on this inside guy [Libyan defector Abdul Majid Giaka]. It wasn't until the trial that I learned this guy was a nut-job and that the CIA had absolutely no confidence in him and that they knew he was a liar.

President Obama called Turkey's prime minister on Friday to talk about Libya and "coordinate our urgent efforts to respond to developments, and ensure that there is appropriate accountability," the White House announced.

China, you are next. Hu Jintao is like Qadhafi. Why do you block facebook Hu? What are you afraid of? All the money you have stolen? All the people you have put in prison for no reason without due process? How you have held China back from the greatness it deserves? The Chinese people are good just like Egyptians. You are next Hu. You might want to think about where you might land. How about Venezuela? Do you speak Spanish?